It was the last game Loeffler would serve as offensive coordinator for Auburn, while Grimes’ days as the Tigers’ offensive line coach were also over. At the time, neither coach could’ve figured less than two months later they’d be headed to Blacksburg to work for a Virginia Tech program getting ready to start its 2013 season against which team?

Oh…yeah…that’s right…Ala-freakin-Bama.

“The wonderful thing is I got to play them in the last game, and then you got to sit and watch them the entire summer and now it’s game-week with them,” said Loeffler on Wednesday – just a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

“I’ve played national championship teams, and that team last year might’ve been the best team I’ve played against hands-down.”

Tech coach Frank Beamer has said the same thing about the No. 1-ranked Alabama program his team is about to face in two days in Atlanta.

Loeffler, who is now Tech’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, had trouble making headway against Alabama’s defense in his one season as Auburn’s offensive coordinator (just 163 yards in the game for Auburn, which crossed midfield twice; most lopsided Iron Bowl final score in 64 years), but he knows what needs to happen against the Crimson Tide for the Hokies to have success.

“I think we’re where we want to be in terms of installation,” said Loeffler regarding the process of teaching his pro style system to Tech’s players. “Alabama presents problems, as you well know, and what we’ve got to do is be very smart on what we do.

“To beat Alabama, you’ve got to do things better than them, and what they do great is they play great defense, they care of the football and they run the ball.”

Of course, the task of just hanging with Alabama is daunting for Tech. It could be missing one of its top two running backs (J.C. Coleman questionable with two sprained ankles), starting tight end Ryan Malleck (shoulder) is out for the season, freshman cornerback Kendall Fuller and junior linebacker Josh Trimble are picking up the slack for two more injured starters, true freshman Jonathan McLaughlin is starting at left tackle and junior Laurence Gibson, who is a junior with just 27 snaps on offense under his belt, is starting at right tackle.

Despite the challenges his unit is facing, Grimes, who is Tech's offensive line coach, is encouraged by what he’s seen from the line. One of the many focus points for Tech’s offense this week has been over-emphasizing calls at the line of scrimmage to combat what will surely be a raucous atmosphere in the Georgia Dome.

Tech has used piped-in crowd noise (something that can only be described as a cross between a swarm of bees and an ill-operating toilet with water constantly filling up the tank) late in practices this week to try to simulate what it might sound like in the dome. Yet, nothing can adequately bring to life the sound inside a domed-stadium.

“If it doesn’t get to a point where we really have to scream to communicate, then it’s not loud enough,” said Grimes of the piped-in sound on the practice field.

“We’re nowhere near where we need to be (as an offensive line), not even close, but they’ve shown up every day and they work. If you’ve got that, then you’ve got a chance to develop, particularly as the season goes on.”

Grimes was at Auburn for four seasons before coming to Tech. He insists he hasn’t let memories of his last experience against Alabama linger.

“I don’t think you can do that as a coach,” Grimes said. “I think you’ve got to move on to the next year regardless, but you don’t ever forget either. Last year wasn’t the only year I played those guys either, so I’ve got a couple other losses behind me, as well.”

He also had one very memorable victory against Alabama on his resume in his time at Auburn. In 2010, No. 2 Auburn defeated No. 9 Alabama 28-27 after trailing 24-0 midway through the second quarter. Auburn went on to win the national championship that season.

“The first thing I think about is how bad it was early on (against Alabama in the ’10 season), how far down we were,” said Grimes, who was 1-3 against Alabama in his time at Auburn. “You couldn’t have been in a worse position than we were in for the first quarter and most of the second quarter, but then, obviously, having the opportunity to come back and just be part of a comeback like that and everything it meant to us that season is a very special thing.”